Homer, Pope (1725; 1906 edition)

' This Hermes gave, then, gliding off the glade,
' Shot to Olympus from the woodland shade.
' While, full of thought, revolving fates to come,
' I speed my passage to th' enchanted dome.
' Arriv'd, before the lofty gates I stay'd ;
' The lofty gates the goddess wide display'd:
' She leads before, and to the feast invites ;
' I follow sadly to the magic rites.
' Radiant with starry studs, a silver seat
' Receiv'd my limbs : a footstool eas'd my feet.
' She mix'd the potion, fraudulent of soul;
' The poison mantled in the golden bowl.
'I took, and quaff'd it, confident in heaven:
' Then wav'd the wand, and then the word was given.
" Hence to thy fellows !' (dreadful she began,)
" Go, be a beast!'—I heard, and yet was man.
    ' Then sudden whirling, like a waving flame,
' My beamy faulchion, I assault the dame.
' Struck with unusual fear, she trembling cries,
' She faints, she falls ; she lifts her weeping eyes.
    "What art thou ? say! from whence, from whom you came ?
" O more than human! tell thy race, thy name.
" Amazing strength, these poisons to sustain !
" Not mortal thou, nor mortal is thy brain.
 " Or art thou he, the man to come, (foretold
" By Hermes, powerful with the wand of gold.)
" The man from Troy, who wander'd ocean round ;
" The man for wisdom's various arts renown'd,
" Ulysses? Oh! thy threatening fury cease,
" Sheathe thy bright sword, and join our hands in peace!
" Let mutual joys our mutual trust combine,
" And love, and love-born confidence be thine.'
    " And how, dread Circe !' (furious I rejoin)
" Can love, and love-born confidence, be mine,
" Beneath thy charms when my companions groan.
" Transform'd to beasts, with accents not their own ?
" O thou of fraudful heart, shall I be led
" To share thy feast-rites, or ascend thy bed;
" That, all unarm'd, thy vengeance may have vent,
" And magic bind me, cold and impotent ?
" Celestial as thou art, yet stand denied ;
" Or swear that oath by which the gods are tied,
" Swear, in thy soul no latent frauds remain,
'' Swear by the vow which never can be vain.'
    ' The goddess swore : then seiz'd my hand and led
' To the sweet transports of the genial bed.